DAR tours state museum

Posted on Friday, June 14, 2013 at 6:29 am

This top hat pictured in the Tennessee State Museum belonged to Private Joseph Greer, a hero of the Revolutionary War. Greer carried the message that the patriots had won the Battle of Kings Mountain, S.C., to the Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia.

Ten members from the Kings Mountain Messenger Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, took an organized tour by van to Nashville recently.

They first visited the Hermitage Hotel for a personal tour. The hotel was built in 1910 by Columbia architect Edwin Carpenter and was named for the home of President Andrew Jackson.

After lunch at the Hermitage Hotel Capitol Grill, the ladies went to the State Museum.

Dr. Candace J. Adleson, Senior Curator of Fashion and Textiles, gave DAR members a personal tour. Dr. Adleson showed the DAR ladies the few items belonging to Private Joseph Greer contained in the museum. The items were his top hat, a three-piece suit, greatcoat and walking stick. By the size of his clothing, they were able to determine his height to be between 6-feet, eight-inches, to six-feet, 10-inches and of slender build.

The DAR Chapter was named in honor of Private Joseph Greer. He was a 26-year-old Revolutionary War soldier who was selected by Colonel John Sevier to carry an important message to the Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia.

The message was the patriots had won the Battle of Kings Mountain, South Carolina, on Oct. 7, 1780. This was believed to be the turning point of the Revolutionary War.

Mr. Greer was awarded a 2,500-acre North Carolina land grant on December 17, 1794 for his military service. The land is located in North Lincoln County, now known as Petersburg. During his lifetime, he and his family accumulated 7,000 acres in this county. It is said he could walk 12 miles from Petersburg to Fayetteville across his own land.

At the conclusion of the tour, the ladies took a ride around the Capitol Building and headed back to Fayetteville.

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